Automated Mechanism for Producing a Baked or Fried Product, Including Methods of Production

Abstract

Mechanisms and methods for producing a baked or fried cake product are disclosed herein that include: a mold, wherein the mold comprises a top half, a bottom half and an end opening and wherein the mold is designed to hold a raw dough or batter product, a product handle insertion mechanism, wherein a handle is inserted into the raw dough or batter product, a heating element, wherein the heating element is designed to bake the raw dough or batter product or heat oil to fry the raw dough or batter product to form a baked or fried cake product, a dipping tray, wherein the dipping tray is designed to hold a plurality of the baked or fried cake product, a robotic tool, wherein the tool is designed to grab the handle in the baked or fried cake product and move the baked or fried cake product to the dipping tray, an open container of a liquid coating material, a robotic dipping tool, wherein the dipping tool is designed to place the full dipping tray into the container of the liquid coating material and then remove the full dipping tray from the container after the baked or fried cake product is coated, and a drying station, wherein the drying station is designed to secure the full dipping tray until the coated baked or fried cake product is dried.

1 . A mechanism for producing a baked or fried cake product, comprising:
 at least one mold, wherein each mold comprises a top half, a bottom half and an end opening and wherein the mold is designed to hold a raw dough or batter product,   a product handle insertion mechanism, wherein a handle, a stick or a post is inserted into the raw dough or batter product,   a heating element, wherein the heating element is designed to bake the raw dough or batter product or heat oil to fry the raw dough or batter product to form a baked or fried cake product,   a dipping tray, wherein the dipping tray is designed to hold a plurality of the baked or fried cake product,   a robotic tool, wherein the tool is designed to grab the handle, the stick or the post in the baked or fried cake product and move the baked or fried cake product to the dipping tray,   an open container of a liquid coating material,   a robotic dipping tool, wherein the dipping tool is designed to place the full dipping tray into the container of the liquid coating material and then remove the full dipping tray from the container after the baked or fried cake product is coated, and   a drying station, wherein the drying station is designed to secure the full dipping tray until the coated baked or fried cake product is dried.   
     
     
         2 . The mechanism for producing a baked or fried cake product of  claim 1 , wherein the mold is rectangular, square, spherical, triangular or a combination of shapes. 
     
     
         3 . The mechanism for producing a baked or fried cake product of  claim 1 , wherein the mold comprises any suitable material, including aluminum, steel, cast iron, non-stick material, composite material or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The mechanism for producing a baked or fried cake product of  claim 1 , wherein the top half and the bottom half of each mold is independent from one another. 
     
     
         5 . The mechanism for producing a baked or fried cake product of  claim 1 , wherein the end opening of each mold is designed to operatively communicate with the handle. 
     
     
         6 . The mechanism for producing a baked or fried cake product of  claim 1 , wherein the product handle insertion mechanism is fully automated. 
     
     
         7 . The mechanism for producing a baked or fried cake product of  claim 1 , wherein the product handle insertion mechanism is partially automated. 
     
     
         8 . The mechanism for producing a baked or fried cake product of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises an electric fixture, a gas fixture or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The mechanism for producing a baked or fried cake product of  claim 1 , wherein the dipping tray comprises a plurality of product. 
     
     
         10 - 20 : (canceled)